Update tree maintenance at Elephant Jungle
In July 2011 we managed to get 4,000 saplings planted at the Elephant Jungle. The tree were produced in our own tree nursery, and consisted of 19 native tree species as follows, Afzelia xylocarpa, Cassia siamea, Alstonia scholaris, Sesbania grandiflora, Bauhinia purpurea, Eugenia cumini, Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Sapindus rarak, Terminalia bellerica, Terminalia chebula, Tamarindus indica, Phyllanthus emblica, Lagerstroemia macrocarpa, Psidium guajava, Gmelina arborea and Oroxylum indicum. Also the herbal medicine trees, Gendarussa vulgaris, Caesalpinia sappan and Rhinacanthus nasutus.
After the planting event in July 2011, we arrange tree maintenance for all the planted trees. like weeding and applying organic fertilizer. This way we make sure that the trees can compete with the fast-growing weed, will have a high survival rate and can grow very well. The planted trees needs maintenance until the forest recovers within the next 2 – 3 year.
Click for more details and to see more photos about our planting site at the Elephant Jungle project in September 2011.
From our survey at the planting site before the end of the 1st rainy season on September 22, 2011(3 months after tree planting event) found that most of the planted trees survived (more than 90%) and grow very fast. The 3 tallest tree species are Sesbania grandiflora, Bauhinia purpurea and Eugenia cumini respectively. Sesbania grandiflora is the fastest-growing and the most healthy species, the average height is 1.55 - 1.75 m. tall and it also creates a big shade to shed out the weeds under and nearby the tree.
In generally we are very satisfied about the plot performance. The planted trees have a higher survival rate and growth speed, because of the continues hard rain for many months and the support of the mulch card boards. But also, the high moisture of the soil and the hard rain made the card boards gone quickly too. Because we cannot access the land during the heavy rain, we are lacking of labour to take care of the land during monsoon season. Therefore, we still have to deal with some fast-growing weeds. Part of the planting site, especially on the slope at the top hill, the planted saplings were covered with the weeds and can’t grow very well like the planted saplings at the foothill that are easier to access for weeding. Anyway, to compare with the last year at the same period time, the planted trees have a much higher survival rate.
As soon as the road is accessible, we need groups of volunteers to help us to do trees maintenance for the 4,000 trees urgently in October - November 2011. At the mid of dry season (February - March), we will need volunteers to make the fire brake cutting all around the plot to protect the planted trees from forest fire, improving the water system for watering the planting plot during dry season, small dam/check dam making to preserve the water resource for elephant and wildlife. Please check the announcements on our or facebook page. Please E-mail to dutsadee.nilubol@bring-the-elephant-home.org to plan your event with us.
The most 3 highest tree species are Sesbania grandiflora, Bauhinia purpurea and Eugenia cumini respectively.
Fast-growing tree species at the planting site.
Many native tree species (19 species) planted in the same plot to create more biodiversity.
Tree planting technique that mix with pioneer and climax trees. A pioneer tree is a tree that can grow very fast to recover a degraded area first and thus create the shade for climax tree species, that grow slowly but have long life. Also, we plant some of the fruit trees to provide food for elephant and the wildlife living here.
Tree planting site on the slope covering with the weeds much more than at the foothill.
Our staff do weeding by grass cutter and by hand and then applying the fertilizer.
The government officers from Mae On nursery station who support us with free tree saplings came to visit our planting site on September 22, 2011 to monitor the tree growth performance.
Sesbania grandiflora, the fastest-growing and the most healthy species in our planting site, the average height is 1.55 - 1.75 m.
